Over the years I have had the blessed opportunity to play in a large number of bands each of whom played an amazing variety of music.
And during those same years I have also been blessed with the opportunity to provide sound systems and sound engineering to an incredible array of bands and/or musicians/artists.
But early in 2009 around the end of April-2009 through May-2009 I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide a sound system for the Longest Non-Stop Concert By Multiple Bands/Artists.
Now this certainly wasn't the biggest system I have ever ran, nor was it the largest venue I have done, but it was certainly going to be extreme in one context, it was going to be lonnggg.
And NON-STOP!!!! Whew!!!!
We ran nonstop for 288 hours and during that time I experienced a few issues with the sound system, (see cables) but nothing that wasn't resolvable...
What is amazing is this: That system ran nonstop for 288 hours without any Amplifier's going down, without any blowed Speakers or issues with the sub-systems connected.
Now it may or may not be of interest to ya, what I was using for the sound system at this gig, but an intelligent chap who is a musician and is one who looks forward to the future and anticipates potential issues, may well want to know!!!
First and Foremost - CROWN MICROTECH 1200's
I have had these babies since the early 90's and put them through some of the most cruel and gruelling conditions you could ever hope for.
And how do these CROWN MICROTECH"S repay me?
You would do well to ask my friend, because they are so chock full of attitude and gumption that during the worst I could hand out they sneered at me and started snoring, as if to say, "we are so bored with your paltry demands we feel we must sleep... while still producing full power and sweet music. And for some reason, they said all this in English but with a heavy French accent....? Heck I don't know why, just that this is how it sounded to me-lol
So, do ya want consistent power and persistent reliability?
Then use CROWN MICROTECH"S AND CROWN MACROTECH"S.
And only CROWN MICROTECH'S & MACROTECH'S!!!!!!!!
Want great sounding speakers at a reasonable price? Eminence Speakers will get ya there.
Need Cabinets to put those speakers in? Try MCM Electronic's out of Dayton, Ohio. Yep, they are online!!!!
And if ya can't afford a Soundcraft, Midas or Allen & Heath Console, then consider a Peavey Mixer! Good solid reliable and consistent performers and yep I have used a few of em over the years as well as the Soundcrafts and Allen & Heath's.
And absolutely stay the hell away from Mackie and Behringer, and I am serious. The ghosts in those machines they build will have ya wearing a garlic necklace and voodoo beads, in the hopes that the console will perform correctly and who the heck wants ta go through that?
And although there are tons of choices out there for Cross-overs and Equalizers, I prefer Rane, based upon more than 30 years of doing sound and equalizing it with everything from DOD to Alesis!
When you want crossover points as tight as is possible think 24db Octave slopes and then think Rane AC 23 or the digital version of this same Cross-Over.
Ditto for EQing. Rane RE 31's, RE 27's and RE 15's. Same reason...
Personal preferences for speakers are ElectroVoice, EAW, Peavey and Eminence Cabinets/Monitors and all of these speaker systems have great attributes that demonstrate consistency and reliabilty throughout the performance.
EV & EAW's cost a bit more, than Peavey or Eminence, yet all of these speakers are in my opinion, great sounding systems.
And now we come to the Audio signal path. Use good quality cables, (Monster, Belden, Switchcraft) if you want a quality signal.
Go cheap and ya may come off sounding thin, weak, distorted and/or not heard at all. It happened to me during the aforementioned concert and I should have known better!!!
Want good sound? Use a good system. Then the only varible in the equation is the performance and musical ability of the band/artist.
And if your a band, use a sound engineer if at all possible. A good engineer can make ya sound great, cue effects up and down when needed and bring your vocals and lead guitar out in front of the mix! Can sound be ran from stage? Yep, but it sure sucks when ya need to turn something up and you're in the middle of a song.
All too often, the performing musician is faced with the daunting task of booking the gigs, prepping for the gig, setting up the sound system, running the sound check and then performing.
And if your doing all that, what percentage of effort do ya think your putting into the actual performance? Which of course, is the sole reason you are out there in the first place!
I can think of five guys right now, who all have a great ear, are knowledgeable on the mixing console and are also great musicians in their own right, yet they also have a love for mixing.
If your a band and have a system and you would like a reliable and quality sound engineer, email me and I will hook you up with one of them.
If you are doing a gig and need system, give me a call and I may be interested...no promises though-lol.
So there ya have it, some timely tips for all you musicians and sound engineer's from your ole Uncle Das.